Relentless, but not Reckless

One of the six core values here at STORM is Relentlessness, defined in our employee handbook (yes, we have one of those!) as:

We have a bias towards action. We always exhibit a high sense of urgency to get things done. We will be relentless, but not reckless — always considering excellence in our actions.

Relentless, but not reckless.

Again, louder for the people at the back: Relentless, but not reckless.

Applicants and employees alike still misunderstand this value sometimes as “brute forcing” our way to get a job done. Some think it means stubbornness, while some interpret it as ruthlessness. Though we might use those words to describe a few of our peers in a respectable way, ticking the “descriptive” criteria for a company value, the “aspirational” criteria tends to be forgotten.

STORMers are relentless, but a lot of times, to a fault.

“but not reckless” is added as a reminder to aspire to find the balance between being persistent and being attentive. Especially now, during the busiest time of the year for the company, we unconsciously dance around the fine line that separates the unwavering from the careless.

With work output: we want to deliver and meet deadlines. However, we don’t sacrifice quality just to say that we’ve turned in work on time.

We solider on to make good on our promised output despite obstacles. And if we find it more challenging than we expected, that’s when our entrepreneurship shines. Excellence mustn’t always come with sacrifices, sometimes it just needs another way to pull through. Too much relentlessness might have immediate pay-offs, but they rarely pan out in the long run.

With our colleagues: we try to push and challenge each other. There are times where we expect a lot from our teammates because we know they’re capable of doing more and doing better.

This method yields results, I must agree, but trust is a crucial element in its success. Take it a step too far and we might find ourselves straining friendships and professional relationships by being too hard on others or by being too inconsiderate. This is where our Christ-centeredness grounds us: we remember that love and patience towards each other should be balanced with challenging each other to newer heights.

With ourselves: we are harder on ourselves than on others. This I know to be truer than the previous points. Simply being around fellow unfaltering folk can make anyone feel that they’re not doing enough and STORMers are no exception. We see some of our colleagues skipping lunch and staying late at the office, and we think that it’s okay to follow suit.

There are special circumstances that require a bit of personal sacrifice, yes; that’s why Hanep Service is another one of our core values. We know when to persist to deliver only the best to our team and our clients, but we should also know that our best mustn’t come with a cost everyday.

We need that constant reminder to think of our well-being too, because it really does slip our minds when we deem our work as more important than food or sleep.

To give STORMers that little push to take care of themselves amidst the chaos of Q4, I proposed to celebrate National Mental Health Week in the office.

As an advocate of mental health awareness, I knew that there are difficulties in getting everyone behind the idea that self-care is empowering and not an admission of weakness. With the blessing and help of our People Operations Head, Angeli Recella, I prepared simple activities that everyone was free to participate in. I recap them now not just to conclude the week’s line-up of events, but also to keep as brief reminders of self-care:

1. Having something to look forward to (be it a major vacation or ordinary weekend plans) can lift up dampened spirits. It helps to think about one thing that can separate one week from the one that passed or the one that’s coming to remind ourselves that we’re not stuck in a bleak routine.
2. Physical health affects mental health in the same way that mental health affects physical health. Forgetting to hydrate or eat properly or even do minor exercises (like stretching) is not productive. Another harmful cycle we find ourselves in happens when we scrimp on sleep: as an anxious person myself, sleep is quite hard to come by and it not only affects my mood at work but also my mental and physical functioning.
3. STORMers are a snacky (not a real word, I know) bunch. That’s one thing I think we got right. We don’t shy away from food or even talks of food. But we also know what’s better than good ol’ regular food: comfort food. Just thinking about a fresh bowl of fries or a big tub of ice cream can make anyone at least a little bit happier.
4. I get that physical interaction in the office may seem out of place, but we mustn’t forget that there are people whose love language could be physical touch. Hugs can be reserved for special occasions (like the group hug we shared when we won the startup world cup) or bad days, but high-fives and fist bumps are enough to make someone feel acknowledged and appreciated.
5. Aside from the role of work friendships in boosting employee satisfaction and engagement, having a social support system in any context impacts mental health in unimaginable ways. The knowledge that someone is looking out for you and is invested in your well-being is truly comforting. Not to mention that it’s not bad to have someone to run to when you need to vent out or share good news with.

To think that these are just hygiene tips for mental health and STORMers still need a reminder! In our relentlessness, we do tend to neglect ourselves.

Though I’d concede that it might be a good indicator of flow, it may also be a sign that we have taken things too far. So once again, I stress: good work mustn’t always come with a price… especially not at the expense of our health — physical or mental. Remember: relentless, not reckless.